TLDR Review: Reolink Video Doorbell
Verdict
The REOLINK Video Doorbell + Home Hub offers an attractive feature set with no monthly fees, good detection capabilities, and easy local storage, making it an appealing option for budget-conscious buyers looking for a smart doorbell system. However, its unreliable connectivity, inconsistent battery life, and troublesome integration issues temper the enthusiasm significantly. If you want a rock-solid, hassle-free experience, particularly in colder climates or if you rely on third-party integrations, you might want to explore other options or make sure your installation environment supports strong, uninterrupted Wi-Fi signals. For a steadier connection and more mature system performance from the same brand, consider looking at newer or second-generation REOLINK camera models that reportedly perform better in connectivity and stability.
- Top pro:
- Provides clear and good-quality video footage with a wide 150°x150° viewing angle, capturing people, vehicles, and packages effectively.
- Top con:
- Reliability and consistent performance are problematic, with several users reporting the doorbell and replacement units stopped recording after short periods.
Pros
- •Provides clear and good-quality video footage with a wide 150°x150° viewing angle, capturing people, vehicles, and packages effectively.
- •Easy to set up and install, especially with dual power options (battery or wired).
- •Advanced motion detection reduces false alarms by allowing you to block specific zones and offers person, vehicle, package, and animal detection.
- •Two-way talk feature allows direct communication through the doorbell.
- •Local video storage through the Home Hub eliminates the need for monthly subscription fees.
- •The Home Hub helps centralize multiple cameras into one system with efficient video saving and notifications.
- •Customer service is responsive and professional, aiming to support the product despite challenges.
- •Functions without requiring any subscription plan, offering good value for features included.
Cons
- •Reliability and consistent performance are problematic, with several users reporting the doorbell and replacement units stopped recording after short periods.
- •Connectivity tends to be unstable, especially with the Home Hub placed nearby but separated by metal or wood doors; frequent signal loss and standby mode issues occur unpredictably.
- •Battery life varies dramatically between units and is severely reduced in cold temperatures below 30°F. Battery recharge on AC power may also be insufficient for continuous use.
- •The doorbell’s sleep mode after 5 minutes of inactivity, even when wired, results in missed or delayed alerts and intermittent "No signal" warnings.
- •Integration with third-party systems like Home Assistant and Blue Iris is unreliable, with frequent drops, choppy video, crashes, and delayed streams.
- •Video playback issues specifically on iOS devices contrast with smoother performance on Chrome browsers.
- •Weather resistance is subpar, making the doorbell potentially unsuitable for harsh outdoor conditions.
- •Additional complexity and cost arise since the system requires the Home Hub to access RTSP/ONVIF streams, which can't be accessed directly from the doorbell.
- •Overall video quality is decent but limited by wide-angle distortion and lack of zoom capabilities.
- •Compared to other cameras from the same brand and competitors like Nest, this model feels like a downgrade in connection stability and feature maturity.
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How we researched this
About this review: it summarizes the professional reviews and customer ratings ShopSavvy collected for this product, alongside prices from ShopSavvy's price data.
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